Gold alloy



Patented 0a. 8,1929

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VICTOR D. DAVIGNON, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSTGNOR TO GENERAL PLATE COMPANY, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND GOLD ALLOY No Drawing. Original application filed June 10, 1926, Serial No. 115,115. Divided and this application filed June as, 1928.

The invention relates to alloys of precious metals, and particularly to-gold alloys containing metals of low specific gravity, and to the process of making the same,

June 10, 1926.

The present invention is particularly concerned with gold alloys containing low specific gravity fnetals possessing the characteristics of silicon and titanium, which metals, probably on account of their strong afiinity for oxygen, cannot be alloyed with gold by usual processes to produce homogeneous, malleable and ductile alloys. Although the metals mentionedbelongto the group of metals which have as a distinguishing characteristic the ready alloying with iron it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to use 4 of metals of this group, as other low specific gravity metals, for example aluminum, which does not readily alloy with iron but which has a strong affinity for oxygen,-can be alloyed with gold by use of the process.

According to the practice of the invention the constituents of the alloy are melted inthe presence of suitable fluxes to eliminate the oxides of the low specific gravity metals,

. the latter readily combining with the gold.

As suitable for flux I may use potassium-bifluoride, calc um chloride, cryolite, potassium chlorlde, sodium chloride, and sodium fluorin%very satisfactory.

I have found Serial No. 287,892.

ide, a mixture consisting of 1 part calcium chloride'and 2 parts potassium bifluoride bey practice of the improved method commericial gold alloys containing from 25 to 85% by weight of gold and silicon in amounts up to 1 or titanium in amounts up to 1% 'may be readily produced, and with care the amounts ofsilicon and titanium may be raised to about 3% of the alloy. Small amounts of these low specific grav1ty metals, as for example 1% of silicon or even less, will have a marked efiect upon the'specific gravity of the resulting alloy.

i As a desirable commercial 12 carat green gold alloy the same may contain by weight about 50% gold, 12% copper, 1% titanium, 1% maganese, and the remainder silver, while as a desirable commercial 12 carat yellow gold alloy the same may contain by weight about 50% gold, 1% titanium, 1% manganese, and

the remainder copper; In the green gold alloy part of the silver may bereplaced by aluminum, and in the yellow gold alloy part of the copper may be replaced by aluminum, say in amounts equal to about 3% of the alloy.

As an example of the practice of the method, but without limitation thereto, 1 troy ounce of titanium, 1 troy ounce of manganese, 48 troy ounces of copper and 50 troy ounces of gold, all in small pieces, may be placed in a graphite crucible, say one about 4 inches in diameter at the top and about 8 inches-high, the metals being arranged on top of each yother in-the order of their specific gravities,

thesilicon on the bottom and the gold on the top, while over the metals'is placedabout 1 ounce of a flux consisting of the mixture of calcium chloride and potassium bifluoride 'hereinbefore referred to. The crucible is now placed in a furnace and raised to a temperature of about 1700 degrees Fahrenheit, the molten metals being stirred with a carbon rod thoroughly to mix them, and if necessary additional flux being added to maintain on the molten metals a layer of flux about 4 inch thick. After melting, the contents of the crucible, that is the molten metals together with the sla and flux, are poured into a moldand allowe to cool, the. mold conveniently being of iron and having a mold chamber about 10 inches long, which chamber in crosssection is a rectangle about x2 inches, the long axis of the chamber being at about 45 degrees to the horizontal, with the sides of greatest width in vertical planes.

Although I have described several examples of alloys and metals for use therein, one example of the improved method and several examples of fluxes for use therewith, it is to be understood that within the scope of my invention wide deviations may be made without departing from its spirit.

Claims: 7

1. Substantially homogeneous, malleable and ductile gold alloys having by weight from 25 to 85% gold, substantial amounts of titanium up to 3%, the remainder predominantly metal of the group comprising copper and silver'.

2. Substantially homogeneous, malleable and ductile gold alloys having by weight from to 85% gold, substantial amounts of titanium up to 3%, the remainder predominantly copper.

3. Substantially homogeneous, malleable and ductile gold alloys having by weight from 25 to 85% gold, substantial amounts of titanium up to 3%, small but substantial amounts of manganese, the remainder predominantly metal of the group comprising copper and silver.

1. Substantially homo eneous, malleable and ductile gold alloys aving by weight from 25 to 85% gold, substantial amounts 'of'titanium up to 3%, at least 1% manganese, the remainder predominantly metal of the group comprising copper and silver.

5. Substantially homogeneous, malleable and ductile gold alloys having by weight from 25 to 85% gold, substantial amounts of titanium up to 3%, small but substantial amounts of manganese, the remainder predominently copper.

6. Substantially homogeneous, malleable and ductile gold alloys having by weight from 25 to gold, substantial amounts of titanium up to 3%, at least 1% manganese, the remainder predominently copper.

7. Substantially homogeneous, malleable and ductile gold alloys having by weight from 25 to 85% gold, substantial amounts of titanium up to 3%, small but substantial amounts of manganese, substantial amounts of aluminum up to 3%, the remainder predominantly metal of the group comprising copper and silver.

8. Substantially homogeneous, malleable and ductile gold alloys having by weight from 25 to 85% gold, substantial-amounts of titanium up to 3%, small but substantial amounts of manganese, substantial amounts of aluminum up to 3%, the remainder predominantly copper.

9. Substantially homogeneous, malleable and ductile gold alloys having by weight from 25 to 85% gold, substantial amounts of titanium up to 3%, at least 1% manganese, substantial amounts of aluminum up to 3%, the remainder predominantly metal of the group comprising copper and silver.

10. Substantially homogeneous, malleable and ductile gold alloys having by weight from 25 to 85% gold, substantial amounts of titanium up to 3%, at least 1% manganese, substantial amounts of aluminum up to 3%, the remainder predominantly copper.

11. Gold alloys having by weight about 50% gold, substantial amounts of titanium up to 3%, small but substantial amounts of manganese, the remainder predominantly metal of the group comprising copper an silver.

12. A gold alloy containing by weight about 50% gold, from 1 to 3% titanium, I 

